Cloth stretching and finishing machine.



Y J. J. W ESTBROOK. CLOTH STRBTGHINQ AND FINISHING MACHINE.

APBLIOATIOR FILED Jun}: 26, 1912.

- Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

' s sums-sum 1. e

I awe/whoa AZMMMM J. J. WESTBROOK. CLOTH STRETOHING AND FINISHINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 26, 1912. 1,046,5 19. Y Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. .T.. WESTBROOK. CLOTH STBETGHING AND FINISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1912.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912. v

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

as Fig. 6 is a secshown an embodiment of JOHN J. WES'IBBO-OK, OFD-LNVIELE, V'IFGINIA.

CLOTH STBE'ICHING AND FINISHING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern: I Be itknown a citizen of the United -Statesresiding at Danville, in the county of Pittsylvania and State ofVirginia, have new and useful 1m do hereby declare the following to be aclear, and exact description of the invention,

such .as will enable others skilled in the art to which it .appertainsto makeand use the same.

y tures hereinafter described had to the accompanying drawings whichshow an embodiment of my invention which 1 have selected for purposes ofillustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in thefollowing'description and claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sideelevation of an invention consists in the novel teaembodiment of myinvention selected by me for the purpose of illustratingmy invention.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus illustrated inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the central chine taken from theposition indicated by the line 3-3, Fig. 1 looking in the directionindicated by the arrow, the said figure vbeing drawn to a slightlylarger scale. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the stretching andconsiderably exaggerated rods considerably enlarged. tional view on line6 -6 of Fig. 5.

'The objectof my invention is to a cloth stretching and finishingmachine, for the purpose of treating cloth in the roll after it leavesthe loom, and cleaning, lstretching, pressing and finishing the same,ready to be folded, rolled or bolted for shipment or for the market, themachine being constructed to stretch the cloth to a considerable extentlongitudinally without impairing its quality, thus increasing materiallythe product, and also spreading it transversely to remove tolds orwrinkles and im arting to it an attractive smooth finish, w ich adds tothe salability and value of the cloth.

.In the accompanying drawings 1 have my invention selected by me forpurposes of illustration, in

'which provision is made for supporting a roll or bale of cloth, as itcomes from the loom and subjecting it to the action of my that LJOHN J.wiisrsnoox,

vided with two reference being by suitable brushes portion of the maing,

apparatus,

ovide 1 improved a. paratusand a roll, but it is to be understood thatthe cloth may be delivered to and from the machine in other ways,without departing from invented certain rovements in Cloth- Stretchingand Finis ing Machines; anfd11 my invention.

Referring to the said drawings, 1 represents' a sup orting stand provied at each end with bi urcated pr slotted) supports 2, 2 to receive theshe. ends 3 or trunnions of a roller upon which a bale of cloth to betreated is wound, said-stand being also pro- (or more) supportingrollers 5, 5 upon which the bale of cloth rests, while permitting it torotate as the cloth is drawn oil. The cloth forming the bale isindicated V at 6. This apparatus will be found convenient for supportinga roll of cloth and rendering the cloth therefrom, but I do not limitmyself to its use, as the cloth may be supplied to the machine in otherways.

I prefer to havethe cloth acted upon first of the same, and in thepresent instance I have shown the brushing mechanism mount- .ed on aseparatebase from the other portion of the machine. The brushing deviceswhen used may be mounted in a framing directly connected with the mainframe carrying the rollers hereinafter described, and in some instancesif the cloth does notrequire brushor has been carefully brushed beforeit is subjected to treatment in my improved the brushing mechanism may.be dispensed with altogether and I, therefore, prefer that itssupporting framing be separate or separable from the rest of themechanism.

Referring to the brushing apparatus, 10 represents a supporting framing,in which are mounted a pair of guide rods 11, 11, one above and theother guide rods being located at the end of. the framing nearest thesupply of cloth to be treated. Adjacent to said guide rods are locatedtwo rotary brushes 12 and 13, the one 12 being situated in posi-tion toact on the upper face of the cloth and the other 13,.

rm) STATES PA OFFICE.

heclflcationot Letter: retest Patented 13cc. 10, 1912. Application filedJune as, 1912. Serial no. wares.

rewinding it into which engage both sides below the cloth, said andbrush the pile or nap out straight sothat it lies straight with thegoods and in one direction. a

In order to avoid having the dust, lint, etc., scattered over the roomin which the apparatus is located I prefer to provide means forcollecting and withdrawing the dust, etc. To this end I have shown hoods80 and 81 extending partially around the brushes on the side from whichthe dust is discharged, and adjacent to the cloth which hoods areconnected to suction pipes 82'and 83 respectively, to any suitable fanor suction device for withdrawing the dust, etc., and discharging itoutside of the building or room. I may also provide the brushingapparatus with acasing 84, surrounding the brushes and proing with apinion 28 on from any suitable source of power.

vided with a hinged (or removable) cover 85 if desirable, as shown inthe drawing, which casing may also inclose the dust collectinghoods 80and 81.

From the brushing apparatus the cloth is led to the apparatus. formoistening, stretching and smoothing, finishing and drying the clothwhich is preferably constructed as herein shownand' which I will nowproceed to describe. 20 represents another supporting framing, which maybe formed integrally with, or secured to the framing 10, or setupseparately therefrom as here shown. In the upper portion of the framing20, are mounted: a plurality of rollers 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, the shaftsof which are provided with intermeshing gears, so

that they all rotate together, eachroller;

turning in the opposite direction from the adjacent roll or rolls, Theshaft 26 of the lowest roller 25 is in this instance the driving shaftof the series, and is provided with a the driving shaft 29 of themachine or apparatus, which is provided with fast and loose band pulleys30, 30 by means of which it may be driven shaft 29 is also with a bandwith a band pulley 33 on the shaft of one of the brushes 12, 13 (in thisinstance the shaft of brush 13)- for driving the brushes, the said brushshafts being connected for joint rotation by intermeshing gears 34, 35on their respective shafts. The brushes therefore, rotate in oppositedirections but as secured to the framing said pipes being connectedwithout injury to the fabric.

good results are obtained for certaln classes of goods by increasing thediameter of each throughout the series.-

large gear 27, mesh-- The.

provided in this instance pulley 31 connected by belt 32,

they are on opposite sides of the cloth they act upon the surfaces ofthe cloth in the same direction. I The series of rollers include amongtheir number at least one and Preferably two which are heated by theintroduction of steam within them, or by other heating means, andcertain of said rolls are prefgiving them a slightly greater peripheralspeed,- and thereby gradually stretching the ,erably made of greaterdiameter than the roll or rolls preceding it in their engagement withthe cloth, for the purpose of cloth as it passes around, and between theseveral rolls, as will be readily understood. In the present instance,as shown in an exaggerated manner in Fig. 3, the first two rolls 21 and22' (that is to say, the two lower'rolls of the series, as shown) are ofthe same diameter, the roll 23 is-slightly larger in diameter than rolls21 and 22; roll 24 is slightly larger than the roll 23,

and roll 25 is slightly larger than the roll for the purpose 'ofsecuring a gradual and even stretching of the cloth where suchstretching is desired and can be effected of several successive rolls byfrom 3 4' to of an inch, but I do not wish to be limited to anyparticular increase in diameter, or to any particular number ofsuccessive rolls having their diameters so successively increased, asthese matters Wlll vary wlth the character of goods treated and theamount of stretching which is desired. And obviously if no stretching isdesired beyond it and the brushes 12 and 13, I provide suitable tensionrods to cooperate with the rolls, and put a degree of tension upon thecloth,

to straighten it out by drawing or pulling it taut. In the presentlnstance the framing 20 is provided with brackets 36 between which aremounted preferably a smooth guide rod 37 and rig ht and left spirallygrooved guide rods 38 and 39, the rod 38 belng placed in line with thesmooth rod 37 and the rod 39 being below the rod 38. The rods38 and 39have their surfaces provided with spiral grooves which extend from thecenter of 24.- The increase in the size'of the rolls is a I find thattheir length toward. their ends in opposite directions, that is to sayin left and right hand spirals respectively. The cloth is led from theguide rod 14 in rear of brush 13 above the smooth rod 37, thence underthe grooved rod 39 and thence over the grooved rod 38, being forced tomake a sharp turn around the grooved rods 38 and 39. As the cloth isdrawn over the ri ht and left spirally grooved rods; 38 an 39 aconsiderable amount of friction is set up which retards the passage ofthe cloth which is being drawn forward by the rollers as herein afterdescribed and it is thereby drawn taut and slightly stretched in alongitudinal diaction of a spirally grooved rod. The efiect face of ahot roller.

of the right and left hand spiral-portions of the rods is also to tendto prevent the cloth from moving laterall to left and right on the same,on account the frictional resistance and also on account of the factthat the lateral stretching actions of the reverse spiral ortions tendto counteract each other, t us holding the cloth in its proper positioncentrally of the-machine as it is drawn over said rods. I also rovidemeans for moistening the cloth to facilitate smoothing and drawing outwrinkles and folds therein, and further to leave it in the bestcondition to be acted upon by the heated drying and smoothing rollers,and I prefer to locate the moistening device, .which may consist of adevice for spraying steam or water, upon the cloth, or other suitablemoistening means, adjacent and preferably in advance of the groovedguiding and spreading rods, just described, although this isnotessential. I accomplish the moistening or dampening of the cloth in thisinstance, by means of a horizontally disposed atomizer 40, whichconsists of a pipe supported in any suitable manner below the guide rods37, 38,39 and preferably between the vertical transverse planes of therods 37 and 39, as shown, said pipe being provided with a plurality ofjet apertures discharging upwardly against the cloth, and being sup-'plied with steam by a pipe 41, controlled by a valve 42, said pipe 41being connectedwith a suitable steam supply.

In order to thoroughly dry the cloth, and at the same time impart asmooth and even finish thereto, I prefer to heat at least two of theseries of rollers, so that both faces of the cloth may be acted upon bythe sur- I prefer to heat the rollers .22 and 23, which are made hollowfor the purpose and are provided in this instance at each end withhollow journals or trunnions through which steam pipes are introducedfrom a manifold 45 at each end, suitable packed glands being employed toinsure tight joints hetweensaid pipes and vided with a control 24 andagain the roller journals. The manifolds 45, 45 v are supplied withsteam by a pipe 46 from a suitable steam sup manifold is provided with adraw-off cook 48 by means of which the condensed water can be withdrawn.I may, however, use other well known heatin means for heating andmaintaining said ro ers in heated condition.

The cloth after leaving the spiral right and left hand grooved rod 38passes between the roller 21 and the hot roller 22, thereby subjectinone face of the cloth to the hot roller. hence it passes around roller22, and between rollers 22 and 23 and around roller 23, therebsubjecting the other face to the action 0 hot roller' 23 thence betweenrollers 23 and 24 and around 24, thence between 24 and 25 and around 25,from which it is preferably led under an .idle roller 50 and over anidle roller 51,

supported on brackets 52 in rear of the framing 20. As the cloth isdrawn from roller 22 to and around roller 23, it will be slightlystretched as roller 23 has a greater periphery and consequently agreater peripheral speed than the roller 22. The cloth is furtherstretched in passing around roller in passing around the roller 25. Itwill be understood'that any desired ly which pipe is pro-' ing valve 47and each. a

number of stretching rollers having gradually increased peripheral speedmay be employed, the amount of stretch being divided up between them asfound most efiective and advantageous. While, in this instance I haveshown the rollers connected by intermeshing gears of the same size, andthe increase in peripheral speed is accomplished b slightly lncreasing te diameter of the ro ers, it is to be understood that I may secure thegradual increase in peripheral speed 'in.

other ways if found desirable, by propertion-ing the peripheries of therollers to their drlvlng connections to secure the desired result, andit is, therefore, unimportant 7,

that the rollers' should be of substantially the same size or that theyshould be grouped and driven in the exact manner herein set forth, whichhowever, is my preferred construction.

After being stretchedand finished the cloth is ready to be rolled,folded or bolted. Kit is desired to re-rolljit I provide a stand 61similar to the stand 1, having bifurcated (or slotted) end portions 62to receive the trunnions 63 of'a roller 64, upon, which the cloth iswound. The stand is provided with supporting rollers 65, 66, the shaftsof which are provided with band wheels 67 68 engaged. by a crossed belt69 from a driving pulley 70, on driving shaft 29, thus imparting powerto the rollers 65, 66 to enable them to rotate the roll of cloth andwind up the' cloth thereon. In order to avoid too great friction on thecloth the lower face of roller 65, and also-to-take up any slack 'inthecloth after'it leaves the finishing and stretching, apparatus, Iprefer to provide atake up roller 71 carried on arms -72 pivotallysecured by bolts, or the like to the stand 6l. The clot-h ispassed underroller 71 and beneath roller 65 and by a. cer=,

, tain amount of friction ,on' the cloth as it passes beneath the roller65, it is desirable to cause the cloth to be lightly woundtherereversely moving face of roller 65, however,

as the friction so produced tends to assist in rolling the'clothsmoothly and tightly on the roller 64 as before stated.

WVhat'I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A clothfinishing and stretching machine having'a pair of rollers frictionallyengaging the cloth andclamping it between them, and means for positivelyactuating each of said rollers in opposite directions, one of saidrollers having a higher peripheral speed than the other,*whereby thecloth is stretched longitudinally with a minimum offriction between thecloth and rollers.

- 2. A cloth finishing, and stretching machine provided with a pluralityof rollers, to frictionally engage and. feed the cloth, certain of saidrollersfor acting on the cloth progressively having progressivelyincreased peripheral speed, whereby the cloth is progressively stretchedlongitudinally by each of said rollers. I

3. A cloth finishing and stretching\ machine provided with a pluralityof rollers for frictionally engaging the cloth, and feeding it, saidrollers being rotated at the same speed, one of said rollers being ofslightly greater diameter than a preceding roller, thereby giving it ahigher peripheral speed,iand effecting a longitudinal stretching of thecloth.

4. A cloth finishing and stretching maehine provided with a plurality ofrollers for successively engaging and feeding the cloth, certain of.said rollers being progressively of slightly greater diameter than apreceding roller or rollers, and means for rotating all of said rollersat the same axial speed, whereby the cloth will be progressivelystretched by said rollers of progressively increased diameter.

5. In a cloth finishing and stretching machine, the combination with aplurality of finishing rollers, certain of said rollers having a higherperipheral speed, than a preceding roller or rollers, of devices forfric-, tionally engaging the cloth before it is e11- gaged by saidrollers, for f retarding the cloth, and subjecting it 1 to longitudinalstrain before it is engagedv by saidrollers. 6. In a'cloth-finishing andstretching machine, the combination with a plurality-of finishingrollers, certain-of said rollers having a higher peripheral speed than apre-' ce ing roller or rollers, of devices for frictionallyengaging thecloth before it-isengaged by said rollers, for retardingthe cloth, andsubjecting it to longitudinal strain before it is engaged by saidrollers,

said devices having 7 their cloth' engaging surfaces provided with meansfor spreading the cloth laterally to remove folds and wrinklestherefrom. i

' 7'1 In a cloth finishing and stretching machine, the combination witha plurality of rollers for progressively frictionally engaging andfeeding the cloth, certain of v said rollers having a higher peripheralspeed than a preceding roller or rollers, to stretch the clothlongitudinally and means for dampening the cloth before it engages saidrollers, certain of said rollers being provided with heating means. 7

8.-: In a cloth finishing and stretching ma: chine, the combination witha' plurality of rollers forprogressively frictionally enga'ging andfeeding the cloth, certain of said rollers having a higher peripheralvspeedv than a preceding roller or rollers to stretch the clothlongitudinally, means for dampening the cloth, and a device forfrictionally engaging and retarding thecloth in ad- Vance of saidrollers, for straining the cloth longitudinally and straighteningitbefore it passes to the rollers, certain-of said rollers beingprovided with heating means. I

9. In-a cloth finishing and stretching'machine, the, combination with apluralitypf rollers for progressively frictionally engaging and feedingthe cloth, certain of'said rollers having a higher. peripheral speedthan a preceding roller or rollers to stretch the cloth longitudinally,means for dampening the cloth, and a device for frictionallyengaging-and retarding the cloth in advance of said rollers, forstrainingthe cloth longitudinally and straightening it before it passesto the rollers, certain of said rollers being provided with heatingmeans, said retarding devices having their cloth engaging surfacesprovidedflwith means for' stretching the cloth laterally to remove foldsand wrinkles while it is under longitudinal tension.

its

10. In a cloth finishing and stretching machine, the combination with aseries of metal finishing rollers for progressively frictionallyengaging and feeding the cloth, certain of said rollers having a higherperipheral speed that a preceding roller or rollers, the. increase inthe peripheral speed of said rollers being progressive, stationary guide:bars frictionally engaging the cloth path of the cloth through inadvance of the rollers, and deflecting it out of a straight line, toretard the cloth and subject it to longitudinal strain, said guide rodsbeing each provided with right and left spiral portions for spreadingthe goods transversely, a pair of rotar'y brushes located in advance ofsaid guide rods, and on opposite sides of the path of the cloth, and aspraying device for located adjacent to the said guide rods, and meansfor heating certain of said rollers.

11. In a cloth stretching and finishing machine, the combination with asupporting frame, of a plurality of finishing rollers, located one abovethe. other, and substantially in contact, intermeshing gears, secured tosaid rollers for driving them simultaneously, means for heating certainof said rollers, and devices for frictionally retarding the cloth beforeit passes to said rollers, including stationary guide rods, providedwith right and left hand spiral portions extending laterally from apoint substantially in line with the center of the cloth, a device forspraying the cloth located adjacent to said retarding devices, androtary brushes for engaging opposite faces of the cloth located inadvance of said retarding devices.

12. In a cloth stretching and finishing machine, the combination with asupport for a bale or roll of cloth, provided with means for permittingthe rotation of the bale, to render the 1, cloth therefrom, brusheslocated on opposite sides of the the machine for engaging oppo, 'tefaces of the cloth, tension rods engaging the cloth and deflecting itout of a straight path to frictionally retard the movement of the cloththrough the machine, certain of said tension rods being provided withright and left hand spiral portions extending from their central portiontoward the opposite ends, a steam pipe located adjacent to said tensionrods and provided with jet apertures discharging in a direction towardthe cloth, for moistening the same, a plurality of finishing rolls forengaging both faces of the cloth, means for heating moistening the clothof rotary certain of said'finishing rolls, and a winding device forrewinding the cloth after it leaves the finishing rolls.

13. A machine for stretching and finishing cloth, comprising among itsmembers, a plurality of rollers, located one above the other andsubstantially in contact with each other, for engaging a strip of cloth,passing partially around and between said rollers,

means for positively driving all of said r0ll-' ers, certain of saidrollers having a greater peripheral speed than a preceding roller orrollers, to effect a longitudinal stretching of the cloth.

14. A machine for stretching and finishing cloth, comprising among itsmembers, a plurality of rollers, located one above the other andsubstantially in contact with each other, for engaging a strip of cloth,passing partially around and between said rollers, means for positivelydriving all of said rollers, means for positively driving said rollersat the same axial speed, certain of said rollers being of slightlygreater diameter than a preceding roller or rollers, to increase itsperipheral speed and effect the stretching of-the cloth longitudinally.

15. A machine for stretching and finishing cloth, comprising among itsmembers, a plurality of rollers, located one above the other andsubstantially in contact with each other, for engaging a strip of cloth,passing partially around and between said rollers, means for positivelydriving all of said rollers, each of said rollers being provided with agear of the same size intermeshing with a gear or gears of adjacentrollers or rollers, means for driving said rollers, certain of saidrollers being of slightly greater diameter than a preceding roller orrollers, to effect a longitudinal stretching of the cloth.

' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN WESTBROOK.

Witnesses:

W. T. SWANSON, T. J. Bass.

